Recently, Sony Electronics Inc. notified their Resellers about their decision to "discontinue the manufacture and sale of our entire Language Learning line effective March 28, 2005." By way of explanation, Hiroshi Okamoto, Vice President of the Sony Conference Solutions Products Group stated the decision was "due to an ever-increasing demand for software based products and a significantly reduced demand for our hardware based language learning products".
We're sure that as a current or potential Sony Language Learning lab user, you want to know how this announcement affects you. Being the exclusive licensor of Sony Language Learning Software we want you to understand who SANS is, what our relationship with Sony is, and how this affects the support and longevity of these products.
The transition of hardware-based to software-based solutions is evident in many areas of our lives. Sony's first step in this transition for language learning products was realized with the 1997 release of the ConductorT Companion Software. That was followed by the Soloist® Digital PC Comparative Recorder software in 1999 - a market leading product that is still evolving. Originally, those products were reliant on Sony's Language Learning hardware products to form a complete system. With the release of Sony's VirtuosoT Instructional Control software in 2001, it became apparent that dedicated hardware solutions were no longer necessary to achieve the features and capabilities required by educators.
In June of 2003, Sony determined that the best way to serve its Language Learning systems customers was to license an outside company to take over continued development and support of its software-based solutions - that is when Software and Network Solutions (SANS) Inc. was created.
Ron Remschel, President of SANS, is an 18 year veteran of Sony. Ron was Senior Manager for Sony Education Systems, drove the development of their Language Learning software suite and, in fact, was awarded seven technology patents related to those products. Ron's stewardship of SANS was planned to make this evolution as seamless to our customers as possible.
Continuing the migration towards all-digital, software-based language learning systems, Sony is taking the next logical step by ceasing the sale of hardware-based analog products in early 2005. Sony will continue to support its hardware through their policy of providing parts and service for a period of seven years after product discontinuation, while SANS Inc. will continue to license, support and develop Sony's Virtuoso and Soloist software solutions. SANS will continue to support Sony's Language Learning dealer network as well as supply Virtuoso and Soloist to other Sony companies for sale in global markets.
SANS' goal is to continue to provide the highest level of innovation and support in language learning software by continuing the legacy established by the Virtuoso/Soloist product line. By transitioning to a more flexible business environment we intend to grow even closer to our customers so that their ideas and requirements may be implemented into products in an even more efficient manner. We hope that you will make the natural transition into the digital future along with SANS.
